Governor Perry Disgusted By Political Cartoon

Texas Governor Rick Perry said he is disgusted by a political cartoon that lampoons the recent fertilizer plant explosion.

The cartoon published in a California newspaper shows the governor declaring that business is “booming” in the state. The next panel features an explosion that is clearly supposed to depict the recent tragedy.

Perry said he was disgusted by the cartoon. He has requested that the newspaper’s publishers issue an apology for offending the people of Texas.

“The Sacramento Bee published a disgusting ‘cartoon’ mocking the deadly explosion in West. While I will always welcome healthy policy debate, I won’t stand for someone mocking the tragic deaths of my fellow Texans and our fellow Americans. I have written the editor and asked that they apologize to the citizens of West.”

Perry also sent a letter to the editor of the Sacramento Bee. He explained that he was disgusted and disappointed with the paper’s decision to run the cartoon. While he is open to political debate, Perry said he wouldn’t stand for someone mocking such a terrible tragedy.

Stuart Leavenworth recently defended cartoonist Jack Ohman. He also used the opportunity to criticize the way Governor Rick Perry does business in Texas.

Leavenworth explained:

“Jack Ohman’s cartoon of April 25 made a strong statement about Governor Rick Perry’s disregard for worker safety, and his attempts to market Texas as a place where industries can thrive with few regulations. It is unfortunate that Governor Perry, and some on the blogosphere, have attempted to interpret the cartoon as being disrespectful of the victims of this tragedy.”

The cartoon in question refers to the fertilizer plant explosion which occurred in West, Texas on April 17. Fourteen people lost their lives and nearly 200 people were injured as a result. An investigation into what caused the accident is still underway.

You can see the illustration for yourself at Philly.com.

What do you think about the cartoon that left Texas Governor Rick Perry feeling disgusted?